Chapter 132: Heading Toward the Destination

Midnight had passed, and snow began to drift from the sky.

By dawn, the snow had ceased. The mountains and plains were cloaked in white; the winter morning was cold and desolate. Two large carts rumbled along the snow-covered mountain path.

One cart was loaded with medicinal herbs, while the other remained empty. The carts were driven by an elderly man, well past fifty, and a man in his thirties. Two young men sat at the front: one, a sharp and capable-looking assistant wrapped in a thick robe; the other, also appearing to be an assistant, wore a bamboo hat and thin, dusty, rather shabby clothes. There was an inexplicable loneliness in his eyes as he gazed out at the mountain wilderness.

Yu Ye had boarded the cart the previous night and left Qihai Town under the cover of darkness.

The carts were pulled by teams of two horses, well-suited for long-distance travel. The owner was a man named Qin Wang, over fifty years old, whom the warehouse manager addressed as Old Man Qin. The other two men, the driver Qin Zhuzi and the assistant Qin Shuanzi, were his nephews, who made their living by hauling cargo with him.

They had departed Qihai Town in the night because Old Man Qin had a strict agreement with his client to transport goods from a village thirty miles away. In the business of trade, integrity was paramount. Thus, Old Man Qin did not dare to delay, arriving at the location by daybreak.

As for the passenger, Yu Ye, he had been entrusted to them by the warehouse manager, who had urged Old Man Qin not to treat him poorly and to ensure he reached Qiong City. Naturally, this was also a favor for A-Hu.

Seeing that Yu Ye was shabbily dressed and possessed nothing but the clothes on his back, Old Man Qin assumed he was merely a boy from a poor family and gave him little thought. Life on the road was arduous, filled with sleeping in the open and eating on the go; as long as he treated the guest with the same standard as his nephews, he would have fulfilled the manager's request.

"Whoa—"

Beside the mountain road lay a village. At the shout, the two carts pulled to a stop in front of a residence at the village entrance. Old Man Qin took his two nephews to knock on the door, while Yu Ye stood aside to wait.

He removed his bamboo hat to shake off the snow, replaced it, folded his arms, and gazed silently into the distance.

Having arrived in Qizhou, he had neither washed away the dust of his journey nor rested for a moment before setting out alone once more.

Everything had been so hurried. For the past two years, it had always been a rush. Even upon arriving in Qizhou, he seemed to be repeating his past life. Yet, in this foreign land, amidst the wind and snow of an unknown path, he could not help but feel profoundly lonely and adrift.

This was a strange new world. This was a path into the unknown.

Yet, he was determined, never looking back.

Saving Daze from disaster was merely an excuse he used to comfort Yu Xin and the others. His true intent was singular: to reach the Yunchuan Sect, find the source of the calamity, and uncover the truth behind the treasures from overseas. For the disciples of the Daoist sects, the Yunchuan Sect was a forbidden zone of life and death, one to be avoided at all costs; they would never dare to take such a risk. Both parties had simply bid each other farewell and parted ways.

"What should we call you, young man... oh, Yu Ye—"

The gates of the residence opened, and Qin Zhuzi and Qin Shuanzi emerged, carrying cargo. Old Man Qin, while exchanging pleasantries with a middle-aged man at the door, beckoned to him.

"Go and give Zhuzi and Shuanzi a hand!"

He was actually asking Yu Ye to help move the cargo.

Yu Ye paused, then nodded and walked over. As he stepped onto the stone stairs, he heard Old Man Qin add, "A young man shouldn't be afraid of hard work; being diligent with one's hands and feet is a virtue!"

Inside the courtyard, several bundles of medicinal herbs were piled up. Yu Ye walked out, clutching a bundle of herbs in each hand, drawing a sideways glance from Qin Zhuzi and Qin Shuanzi.

Each bundle weighed over a hundred catties. The brothers could lift two hundred catties, but they had to shoulder or carry them on their backs; they could never do it with such ease.

From the conversation between Old Man Qin and the merchant, he learned that the carts were not heading directly to Qiong City, but would instead transport goods through various locations before finally reaching their destination.

Moments later, the carts were fully loaded, and they turned back onto the main road.

Yu Ye sat at the front of the cart, eyes closed in rest. Seeming unable to bear the cold, he tucked one hand into his chest, where he secretly examined a map slip.

This map of Qizhou came from a Qizhou cultivator. According to it, Qizhou, also known as Qichuan, was vast, spanning hundreds of thousands of miles, divided into five nations: Zhongshan, Xuanfeng, Qi, Wei, and Yun. The states of Wei and Qi lay to the north, while Xuanfeng and Yun were to the south. In the center, surrounded by these four, lay the state of Zhongshan.

Perhaps due to its immense size, the map only distinguished national borders, famous mountains, major rivers, and well-known towns. Countless roads and villages were not recorded. However, the map did show Yunchuan Peak, where the Yunchuan Immortal Sect was located. From Qihai Town to the southern border of Qi was a distance of thirty to fifty thousand miles. From the southern border to Yunchuan Peak was another thirty to fifty thousand miles. In total, it was a journey of nearly a hundred thousand miles. At their current pace, it might take a year to reach the sect.

Traveling like this was far too slow!

Once he was more familiar with the situation, he would have to find a faster way.

Yu Ye put away the map slip, and faces began to drift through his mind: Meng Qingqing, Tao Feng, Gui Yuanzi, A-Hu, and Yu Xin.

Meng Qingqing was beautiful, straightforward, and sincere, with a love for delicate beauty. Yet, this woman was deeply proud; she would rather die than live a life of mediocrity.

Had he known she considered him a brother, he should have been more patient with her. Had he known she was so resolute, he should have looked after her more. But there was no use in hindsight!

Tao Feng, equally arrogant and talented, possessed lofty ambitions, a bold spirit, and a deep sense of loyalty. There had been many misunderstandings between them. It was a pity that after the disaster on Qimen Island, they were separated by the boundary between life and death.

And then there was Gui Yuanzi, a man he still could not fully fathom. He was full of worldly habits, addicted to gambling and money, a slave to drink, and his behavior was dissolute—a true old scoundrel and rogue. Yet, this was the man who helped him hide the bodies and cover his tracks in Northern Qi Mountain, helped him secure a boat to sea at Chen Family Bay, and taught him the life-saving ability, the "Incarnation Technique," before they reached Qimen Island. Furthermore, the enigmatic words he left before his death might have held a deeper meaning.

If the three divine artifacts lost by the heavens were the treasures the Yunchuan Sect was searching for, what exactly were the Nine Stars, the Star Arrow, and the Star Sea?

Sigh, the hardships along the way only became clear in retrospect. The days passed, the people met—they could never be revisited.

Regardless of where he came from, he must press on toward his destination.

During these days of travel, he would continue his cultivation. He still had a hundred or so spirit stones from the storage rings of Gan Xing and Qiu Yuan, enough to sustain his progress.

Moreover, the Yunchuan Immortal Sect was filled with experts; it was a dragon's pool and a tiger's den. The road ahead would be fraught with thorns, and he must be cautious at every turn...

"I heard your name is Yu Ye. How old are you, where is your home, and why are you going to Qiong City?"

Perhaps bored by the journey, the driver, Qin Zhuzi, struck up a conversation.

Yu Ye, lost in thought, had to open his eyes. After a moment of silence, he replied:

"After this winter, I will be eighteen. I come from... the State of Wei. I am going to Qiong City to pass through to Zhongshan... to seek... well, I am going to seek the Dao of Immortality!"

In the world of mortals, one must be worldly-wise and follow the rules of conduct. As Zhong Jian had said: speak only three parts of the truth to anyone, and never reveal your whole heart. Half-truths were hard to see through. Now that he was in a foreign land, there was no need to be overly guarded. Since there were many immortal sects in Qizhou, seekers of the Dao were likely common enough.

Qin Zhuzi, in his thirties, with a ruddy face, large eyes, a short beard, and a sturdy build, looked him up and down, exclaiming in surprise: "You... seeking the Dao of Immortality?"

Yu Ye felt a bit awkward. "Brother Qin, any advice?"

Qin Zhuzi folded his arms, holding his whip, and shook his head. "Often, those from poor families, just like you, seek the Dao, hoping to ascend to the heavens in a single step, only to return empty-handed time and time again. As far as I know, the immortal sects do not accept mortal disciples. I advise you to stop chasing fantasies; returning home to farm is the only honest way to make a living."

"Well, I am not willing to give up!"

"If that is the case, there are several immortal sects in the State of Qi. Why go so far away?"

"I heard the immortals of Zhongshan are a cut above the rest!"

"Haha, you are an interesting fellow, suit yourself. Since the manager gave the order, I will just see to it that you get to Qiong City. As for immortals..."

Qin Zhuzi, treating Yu Ye as a naive, ambitious farm boy, laughed. "I have actually seen immortals, and I have even dealt with them a few times."

"Oh? Tell me about it!"

"Immortals are no different from you and me; they just happen to know some magical arts and supernatural powers."

"But immortals can live forever and fly on swords!"

"Living to a hundred is enough for a man. To live longer is only tedious. Though flying on a sword is fast, it's not as leisurely and carefree as my carriage, haha!"

The insights of a simple carter were surprisingly profound!

Impressed, Yu Ye couldn't help but ask: "Brother Qin, have you never thought of cultivating to reach the Dao?"

"I have!"

Qin Zhuzi was straightforward. He laughed, "But cultivators are one in ten thousand. Since I lack that destiny, I don't think about it anymore; it only adds to the trouble."

"Brother Qin is broad-minded!"

"Haha, you will be just as broad-minded in the days to come. Everyone has their own fate and must keep to their own path. As long as you and I keep our feet on solid ground, that is enough!"

"I have learned much!"

"You, little brother, are a sensible person, so why remain so obsessed..."

Yu Ye smiled and said no more.

By noon, they stopped to rest. The carts were stocked with dry rations and horse feed, so there was no shortage of food for man or beast. Soon after, the group continued their journey.

The sky cleared, and the snow in the wilderness began to melt. Compared to the persistent, bitter cold of the northern Daze, the winter in Qizhou seemed somewhat brief.

By evening, the two carts arrived in a valley.

According to Old Man Qin, this place was over four hundred miles from Qihai Town, and by noon tomorrow, they would reach Liushan City. The speed of the four sturdy horses exceeded Yu Ye's expectations.

Having traveled from last night until now, the men were exhausted and the horses weary.

Yu Ye took the initiative to help tidy the carts, feed the horses, and gather wood for a campfire. Seeing his diligence, Old Man Qin and his two nephews wore satisfied smiles.

Once the three of them had fallen asleep, Yu Ye sat alone by the fire.

He held a spirit stone in his hand, his eyes flickering slightly along with the flames...